Even if you are in a room or perhaps at a party, a great conversation might end suddenly, with hurt or upset parties and nobody wiser for the change. Even if you could be genuinely curious to know and learn different viewpoints, you should first acquire the skill of asking open ended questions. You can frequently find these on Bibles like Bibles for Children.
Well meaning people can spoil everyone's probabilities of being familiar with a subject of social controversy, mainly because they don't have the skill. Effective and also careful use of rhetoric, coupled with an open ended question approach, can open the door to a lively and also in depth discussion from which everybody benefits.
For instance, suppose you are at a social gathering, excited to get to know some new and interesting people. Controversial subjects are usually, on some level, sensitive in nature. You have family members in the breakaway state of Russia therefore have different views of the reality of the current Russian presence. You start a dialogue with a history professor using the this remark. "I think it is just awful how the Russians sent troops into Georgia, killing civilian people! What do you think?"
Unless you know the opinion or sentiments of that professor, you have put your foot in your mouth. You have opened up the conversation by stating your disposition up front. Can you imagine if that professor is a Russian immigrant, having strong feelings on the Russian position? You have effectively divested yourself of learning several important historical information that might shed some light on the scenario. Once this knowledgeable person takes offense, the conversation may be short and uninformative.
Yet, provided the identical scenario, posing an open ended question doesn't encourage conflict or prejudice from you. You can ask, "You are a history professor and I was curious to learn more about the case in the Georgian conflict. What's behind this?"
This alternative strategy doesn't state your position, except one of ignorance. Even though the professor may have a bias, she or he won't see you as an enemy and will also be flattered because you appreciate what they know. It's unimportant as to whether this individual agrees with you. The objective is to learn what they think and know, how they arrived at their findings and grow more knowledgeable at the same time.
An additional illustration of the open ended question, utilized in a purely social perspective might concern a controversial movie. "Have you watched Michael Moore's 'Sicko'? I believe that guy's a nut and disgracefully unpatriotic, right?" You've stated your point, placing the individual you are asking in a likely awkward lurch. Not many people of the opposing viewpoint will probably be rude adequately enough to tell you off. A further loss to your account!
What about, "Have you seen 'Sicko'? I'm interested about his opinion on the medical situation. It's getting a lot of press." These examples on the use of open ended questions may be a bit heavy handed, but intentionally so. You will see the value of learning, without the need of offending.
Well meaning people can spoil everyone's probabilities of being familiar with a subject of social controversy, mainly because they don't have the skill. Effective and also careful use of rhetoric, coupled with an open ended question approach, can open the door to a lively and also in depth discussion from which everybody benefits.
For instance, suppose you are at a social gathering, excited to get to know some new and interesting people. Controversial subjects are usually, on some level, sensitive in nature. You have family members in the breakaway state of Russia therefore have different views of the reality of the current Russian presence. You start a dialogue with a history professor using the this remark. "I think it is just awful how the Russians sent troops into Georgia, killing civilian people! What do you think?"
Unless you know the opinion or sentiments of that professor, you have put your foot in your mouth. You have opened up the conversation by stating your disposition up front. Can you imagine if that professor is a Russian immigrant, having strong feelings on the Russian position? You have effectively divested yourself of learning several important historical information that might shed some light on the scenario. Once this knowledgeable person takes offense, the conversation may be short and uninformative.
Yet, provided the identical scenario, posing an open ended question doesn't encourage conflict or prejudice from you. You can ask, "You are a history professor and I was curious to learn more about the case in the Georgian conflict. What's behind this?"
This alternative strategy doesn't state your position, except one of ignorance. Even though the professor may have a bias, she or he won't see you as an enemy and will also be flattered because you appreciate what they know. It's unimportant as to whether this individual agrees with you. The objective is to learn what they think and know, how they arrived at their findings and grow more knowledgeable at the same time.
An additional illustration of the open ended question, utilized in a purely social perspective might concern a controversial movie. "Have you watched Michael Moore's 'Sicko'? I believe that guy's a nut and disgracefully unpatriotic, right?" You've stated your point, placing the individual you are asking in a likely awkward lurch. Not many people of the opposing viewpoint will probably be rude adequately enough to tell you off. A further loss to your account!
What about, "Have you seen 'Sicko'? I'm interested about his opinion on the medical situation. It's getting a lot of press." These examples on the use of open ended questions may be a bit heavy handed, but intentionally so. You will see the value of learning, without the need of offending.
No comments:
Post a Comment